g-rosscup



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 41. M. G. GROSSCUP.

HAY FORK. No. 587,413. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

G E@ Z WITN ESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. G. GROSSCUP. HAY PORK.

No. 537,413. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

Miren4 STATES Arnim* trice@ MANIAS GROSSOUP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITMAN du BARNES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 537,413, dated April 9, 1895.

Application filed November 30, 1894s Serial No. 530,411. (No model.) l

@ @ZZ whom it may concern,.- lower ends to receive the rounded ends of Be it known that I, MANIAs G. GROssOUP, a pointed barbs d4 which are pivoted side by citizen of the United States, residing at Ohi side one another, in said bifurcated ends, by cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illimeans of pins a5, and are allowed room, by 5 nois, haveinvented certain new and useful Immeans ofthe spaces between the prongs ofthe 55 proveniente in Hay-Forks; andIdo hereby debifurcated ends to pass within the slots tar clare the following to bea full, clear, and exact enough,to otter no serious obstruction to the description of the invention, such as will eninsertion of the tines into a stack of hay. able others skilled in the art to which it apper- B 'is a lower head-portion provided at each .o tains to make and use the same. end with pendent tubular portions b, b of the 6o My invention relates to improvements in said fork tinesgsaid portions having pointed hay forks and it consists of the combination plugs b', b', secured in their lower ends; and of an upper supporting headportion,carrying also provided with vertical slots b2 above said solid inner portions of tines having pivoted pointed plugs, through which slots the barbs barbs at their lower ends, a lower head-pora4 are adapted to pass when the solid portions 65 tion carrying outer tubular pointed portions a2, a3 of the fork tines are forced down in the of the tines, and adapted to receive and fully hollow portion of said tines. inclose said inner portions and their barbs The head-portion A, is provided, near its when the heads are separated, and means for middle, with an aperture a into which the zo adjustably connecting and locking said head hook ofthe elevating tackle is placed. This 7o portions, whereby upon certain movements of head-portion A is also provided, near its midone of the head portions the barbs are either dle, with a pendent projection O, which is projected outward or drawn into said tubular slotted both from front to rear, and from side portions Vof the tines, and securely locked in to side, the latter slot serving to accommodate both of `said positions. 4an angular trigger D, which is connected 75 In the accompanying drawings, forming to the upper head-portion A, by a pivot pin part of this specitication, Figurel. represents d, and the former for permitting a pin. e, a side elevation of the devices embodying my passed through it and mounted in lugs e on invention, suspended from a hay elevating the lower head B, to slide up as said pendent 3o and carrying tackle, and with the hay engagportion O is moved downward through a ver- 8o ing barbs projecting from the tubular portions tical passage b5 cut in said head-portion B, to ot the tines. Fig. 2. represents a detail, cenpermit such movement. Both the under side tral, vertical, longitudinal section, showing of the head-portion A, and the upper side of the position of the locking mechanism when the head-portion B, are provided with a rethe barbs are projected outward, the trigger cess, respectively, as d and d2, to allow free 85 being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3. repremovement of the trigger D at all times. sentsadetail, central,vertical, transverse sec- A bowed spring F is interposed between tion 'ot the same. Fig. 4. represents a side the wall of the recess d', and the pendent porelevation of the devices embodying my invention of the trigger, so that the normal position 4o tion, with the barbs drawn within the tubular of said pendent portion is in a vertical line 9o portions of the tines, and one of the latter with the pin e. shown in section, and Fig., 5. represents a de- The trigger D is provided with a notch d3 tail, central, vertical, longitudinal section of which is adapted to engage the pin e when the locking mechanism while in the position the two head portions A and B are together, y shown in Fig. 4. v and the lower end of the pendent arm of the 95 A in the drawings, represents-an upper suptrigger is recessed so as to set on and take a porting head-portion, into the socketed ends firm hold of said pin e when the two heada, a', of which, solid pendent screw threaded portions are apart, and thus lock them in that portions oagof fork tines aresecured. These condition. The trigger is provided with a 5o portions of the tines are bifurcated at their passage d4, and the head-portion B with a roo passage f, through which passage a trigger operating rope G is passed, and secured to said trigger, as illustrated.

The operation of the device is as follows: The fork is first suspended on the hay elevating and carrying tackle in the barn or field, as the case may be, and the trigger is then sprung so as to permit the devices to assume the position indicated in Fig. 4, with the barbs drawn within the tubular portions of the tiues, the head portions A and B separated, and the bottom of the trigger engaging the pin e. The points of the tines are then forced into the hay, and the trigger again sprung, either by the rope G or directly by the hand, so as to allow the upper head-portion to descend until the pin c slides into and engages the notch d3,- which movement causes the barbs to project out into the hay upouboth sides of each tubular portion of the tines, in which position they will remain and consequently carry the hay when the fork is raised. When the hay has been conveyed to the desired position, the rope G is jerked sharply and the trigger again sprung, which allows the head-portion B to descend, and thereby draw the barbs within the tubular portions of the tines, and allow the load of hay to fail. The use of the spring is not absolutely necessary, as the trigger will operate without it, but as it assists and quickens the action of said trigger, its use is preferable.

By providing the outer portions of the tines with separately constructed pointed plugs secured in their lower ends preferably by pins as shown, a saving is effected, as facilities are thus afforded for repairing the tines when their points become dulled or broken; it simply being necessary to unfasten and remove said points, and, in their places, apply others. Simplicity is also secured by constructing the inclosing or outer portions of the tines out of .complete tubes, and the inner portions of round metal bars, as the parts of the fork thus constructed can be very readily united by screw threads, sockets, and sleeve like fittings as shown.

I have described a fork having two tines, but it is apparent that my improved construction of tine per se, is not necessarily limited to an elevating fork having any particular number of tines.

What I claim is- In a hay fork, the combination of an upper supporting head-portion carrying solid portions of pendent tines provided with pivoted barbs at their lower ends, a lower head-portion carrying tubular portions of the tines, adapted to receive said barbed portions of the tines, an angular trigger pivoted in the upper head and having its pendent portion notched below its fulcrum point and its lower extremity also recessed, a pin mounted in the lower head so as to engage at proper times the recessed end and the notch in the pendent portion of the trigger, and thus hold the head portions both when separated and together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MANIAS G. GROSSOUP.

Witnesses:

LoUIs M. KRUsE, CHAs. W. KRUSE. 

